The England soccer team has played more than 1,000 international soccer games. While not all of these matches have been great, the Three Lions have had some terrific victories. These are some of the best-ever victories in England.
To pick England’s finest win, the 1966 World Cup final win against West Germany must surely be close to the top. This remains the only World Cup that England has won, and the game itself was a very exciting one. While Germany took a one-goal lead, the Three Lions had a 2-1 advantage going into the closing stages before a late German equalizer. Two more goals from the Three Lions, including a Hurst hat-trick, ensured England would win their first World Cup. Captain Moore then lifted the trophy for an ecstatic England crowd. It was a fantastic day for English sport, which the England soccer team has struggled to emulate ever since.
Portugal had one of their best teams in this World Cup semi-final. However, England had a home advantage and were not to be denied. Two goals from an inspirational Charlton gained England a two-goal lead. A late Portugal goal would not be enough, as England reached their first World Cup final with a 2-1 win in this semi-final game.
While England’s semi-final with Germany was a great game, it had the wrong result for the Three Lions. The game that took England to the World Cup semi-final was their match against Cameroon in the quarter-finals, the first African team to reach that stage of the World Cup. It was no easy game for England, as Cameroon went 2-1 ahead in the match. However, two further goals from the Three Lions sealed the game 3-2 overall as England progressed to the semi-finals of Italia ’90. It was the first-ever World Cup quarter-final win for the Three Lions on foreign soil.
Football came home at Euro ’96, and England played Holland with a win needed to ensure qualification to the knock-out stages. Played at Wembley, the Dutch team had little answer to England’s formidable forward players, such as Shearer, who scored four goals against Holland. A late goal from Holland made the final score line 4-1 overall, but it was England’s game as a jubilant Wembley celebrated this fine win.
It was one of the finest displays of free-flowing attacking soccer seen from an England team in a major tournament. I remember watching this fantastic match on TV, and the undoubted highlight (from an English perspective) was Shearer’s terrific second goal (third for England) when he blasted the ball into the back of Holland’s net from outside the box. Sheringham laid the ball up beautifully for Shearer to hammer home.
One of the best England games recently was this World Cup qualifying game between Germany and England. England went into this game needing a victory to rise towards the group’s top, and against Germany, they would run out 5-1 winners in Munich. Owen was in great form and bagged a hat-trick against a demoralized German team. The win set England up for eventual qualification for the FIFA World Cup by winning the group, and was the biggest win against the Germans. It doesn’t get much better than stuffing the Germans for England!
I do remember watching this match as well. This performance was a remarkable transformation after England had lost the first qualifier game to Germany at the old Wembley. There can be little doubt that England’s performances under Eriksson were somewhat better than they had been under his predecessor, Kevin Keegan.
England’s hammering of Croatia in this key World Cup qualifying game was another great victory for the Three Lions. Having beaten Croatia 4-1 in the previous game, a win was needed here to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. England did not just win, they thrashed Croatia 5-1 in this World Cup qualifying match. It was a great win for England, qualifying them for the World Cup as group winners with a couple of games to play. This match was also sweet revenge for the 2008 European Championship qualifying campaign in which Croatia qualified at England’s expense.
This comprehensive victory against Croatia inevitably inflated expectations for Fabio Capello’s England ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Much of England’s media seemed convinced the Three Lions had suddenly become world beaters for the good form they had shown in the World Cup qualification group. Yet, the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a disappointment for England with the Three Lions crashing out in the second round after a 4-1 defeat to Germany.
England played Ukraine in the Euro 2020 (rescheduled for 2021) quarter-finals. The Three Lions blew Ukraine away to book a place in the European Championship semi-finals. Harry Kane opened the scoring within the first five minutes of the match, and England were 1-0 up at the interval.
The floodgates opened in the second half when Maguire headed a free-kick into Ukraine’s net. A textbook header from Kane in the 50th minute made the score 3-0 as Ukrainian resistance crumbled. Jordan Henderson wrapped up the scoring with another headed goal to make the final score England 4, Ukraine 0. This was one of the best displays of attacking soccer we saw from England during Southgate’s reign.
England won their first-ever major tournament semi-final on foreign soil when they defeated Holland in this 2024 European Championship match. Yet, the Dutch started better, with Xavi Simons scoring a fine goal from outside England’s box to put the Netherlands ahead. Thereafter, England gradually got on top in the first half, with Kane equalizing from the penalty spot.
The game was finely balanced during the second half. Southgate brought on Ollie Watkins in the last 10 minutes. Watkins’ pace and energy troubled the Dutch defense for the rest of the game. He scored a decisive second goal for England in the final minutes to secure a 2-1 win for the Three Lions. It was the most dramatic of finishes to what was England’s best display in Euro 2024.
Those are just some of the greatest England soccer victories. The World Cup and European Championship were great wins for the England soccer team. The Three Lions played like champions in those games. England hopes for more matches like those of the Three Lions in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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